Connecting the heart of Missouri, this 124.9-mile journey between Columbia and St. Louis is a straightforward trek that fits perfectly into a single day of travel. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 31 minutes behind the wheel, making it an ideal excursion for those looking to traverse the Midwest without an overnight stay. Budget approximately $19 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. Navigating the route involves utilizing the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, the Avenue of the Saints, and the Jack Buck Memorial Highway. Because the cities are relatively close, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than worrying about mid-trip lodging.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.4 miles from Columbia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
81 mi
1h 35m
Avenue of the Saints
27.7 mi
33m
Jack Buck Memorial Highway
5.8 mi
7m
Daniel Boone Expressway
5.7 mi
7m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
North Providence Road
1.2 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
0.5 mi
<1m
South 14th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 81 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MO and St. Louis, MO.
1
Start on MO 163
1.2 mi·2 min·North Providence Road
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
3
Merge onto I 70; US 40
0.5 mi·35 sec·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
4
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
5
Continue on I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6
Take the exit onto US 40
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 40
Exit 210AToward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
7
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
28 mi·33 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Continue on I 64; US 40
5.7 mi·7 min·Daniel Boone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on I 64; US 40
5.8 mi·7 min·Jack Buck Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 39AToward 14th StreetUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto South 14th Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·South 14th Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto Market Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Market Street
13
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever it suits your plans, though leaving early can help you avoid potential congestion. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and break up the drive, especially given the turn-heavy nature of the local road segments. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $19 estimate is a helpful benchmark for your budget, but local fluctuations can occur. Because the route relies heavily on regional highways rather than just interstates, ensure your GPS is updated to navigate the transitions between the Avenue of the Saints and the Jack Buck Memorial Highway smoothly. Taking advantage of the route's short duration allows you to enjoy the destination with plenty of energy left for the day.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.4 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 27 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.4 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near St. Louis, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Columbia, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Columbia, MO
This is one driving day of about 124.9 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Columbia, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 81 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 124.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
6
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 210A
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Ches...
5
85 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
124.2 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward 14th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 39A
Toward 14th Street
5
124.4 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|South 14th Street
Turn left onto South 14th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.53 one way
$39.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.44
$42.88
premium
$4.89
$24.04
$48.07
diesel
$5.61
$27.58
$55.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.5
0
$13.11
$6.00
Efficient EV
31.2
0
$10.93
$5.00
EV Truck/SUV
50
0
$17.49
$7.99
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Columbia, MO
Late night
in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
St. Louis, MO
Late night
in St. Louis on Tuesday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 31m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience as you navigate between these two Missouri hubs. While you will spend time on major thoroughfares, only 5% of the total distance is classified as highway driving, meaning you should prepare for a more involved, hands-on time behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted section spans 81 miles along the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which provides the most consistent pace of the trip. As you transition between the various highways and local roads, the personality of the drive shifts, requiring you to stay alert through the more technical, winding segments. It is a drive that demands a bit more attention than a standard interstate cruise.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 31m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Columbia is a bustling college town in Missouri, halfway between St. Louis and Kansas City. It is home of the University of Missouri (also known as 'Mizzou') as well as two other post-secondary institutions Stephens College and Columbia College.
The Gateway City of St. Louis is the epitome of the modern Midwestern metropolis. Missouri's second-largest city is vibrant but laid-back, populous but navigable, historic but still relevant. The city's planners have created an aesthetically beautiful city, with plenty of green space amidst buildings both old and new, framed by the majestic Mississippi and Missouri rivers. And capping it all is the world's tallest man-made monument, the beautiful and iconic Gateway Arch.
St. Louis is a city of culture and surprisingly inexpensive. Among American cities, only Washington, D.C. has more free attractions for tourists and residents alike. Hotels, restaurants, and even parking garages avoid the premium pricing common in other big cities. Although often overlooked, St. Louis can be an affordable, educational, and fun family getaway.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at St. Louis, MO before heading back.
